(Updated 8/26/2011)
It’s been a hot, hot, hot summer and grapes are entering that colorful time of the year called veraison. Soon, they’ll need some big-time human intervention to prepare them for the culmination of their life’s work.
Interested in helping out? Ready to pick?
Several Virginia wineries welcome volunteers to help out with harvest. The harvest programs are not for dilettantes; with tons of grapes to pick in a short period, there’s no time for goofing off. Typically you need to get up at the crack, get out there, get a briefing, have a bite to eat, then get to picking.
If you make it through the picking, you’re typically rewarded with a meal and a glass or two of the fruits of your labor. Some pickers come back every year and have formed strong bonds with the wineries, and with each other.
Think you have what it takes? Here are some of the best, starting with the winery that claims the biggest volunteer harvest program in the state.
Gray Ghost Vineyards
14706 Lee Highway, Amissville VA 20106
Phone: 540-937-4869
www.grayghostvineyards.com
Program details:
Registrations are accepted in the tasting room from February to August. Volunteers must register in person, although the winery allows 4 names per form. Registration begins fresh every year: forms are not carried over from year to year.
Once harvest season arrives:
Gray Ghost calls interested harvesters early in the week for that Saturday or Sunday. Participants are told the variety that is being picked and what time to arrive at the winery. Interested harvesters must then call the winery to book their spot. The first 60 are accepted (or whatever number the winery predetermines). If you are unable to make it, but still interested, Gray Ghost wants you to call them, which allows them to keep your form in the folder for future harvests that year.
The day of harvest:
Participants arrive at the appointed hour, generally 30 minutes before sunrise. The owner, Cheryl, has a lavish breakfast buffet prepared along with bottomless coffee! Her husband, Al, then begins the informative (and entertaining) training session. After the training session, daughter Amy covers a few more logistics and then models the current “Official Harvester t-shirt”.
After breakfast and training, Cheryl and Amy distribute gloves and shears and everyone heads out to the vineyard. You pick a block. Take a break for more food and drink. Then finish picking a second block.
Picking is completed between 10:00 – 11:00 am. At this point, (after a thank you toast!) the shears and gloves are collected, and t-shirts distributed. Meanwhile, Cheryl has prepared lunch and everyone retires to the gardens for a cook-out and plenty of Gray Ghost wine!
After lunch volunteers can stay and watch or help with the grape processing or head home for an afternoon nap!
As with any wildly popular program, Gray Ghost has a few “rules”…
Harvest is RAIN or SHINE. So when people commit to be there, their attendance is expected (and needed!). The winery’s only had one cold, somewhat wet day.
All participants MUST be over 21. (No underage guests permitted, regardless of whether they walk or fit in a stroller!) No pets are permitted.
Gadino Cellars
92 Schoolhouse Road
Washington, Virginia 22747
540-987-9292
info@gadinocellars.com
www.gadinocellars.com
Volunteers receive:
• 1 year membership from date of Harvest
• 10% off wine bottle purchases of 11 bottles or less
• 20% off 12 or more wine bottles
• Privileges to purchase limited quantity wines not being tasted
• Free Tastings for you and any of your guests
The Hague Winery
8268 Cople Highway, Hague, VA
804-472-5283
smadey@hagueassoc.com
www.thehaguewinery.com
Good Luck Cellars
1025 Good Luck Road, Kilmarnock, VA
804-435-1417
info@goodluckcellars.com
www.goodluckcellars.com
Philip Carter Winery
4366 Stillhouse Road, Hume, VA
540-364-1203
info@pcwinery.com
www.pcwinery.com
Marterella Winery (the tasting room is closed (for now) but the grapes still need to come in!)
8278 Falcon Glen Road
Warrenton, VA 20186
(540) 347-1119
kate@marterellawines.com
www.marterellawines.com
Wolf Gap Vineyard
Wolf Gap will harvest one variety each Saturday starting in Sept (probably the 10th). Typically, picking starts at 8 a.m. while the grapes are still cool, and usually finishes before lunch. The winery provides a picnic lunch and you can choose a Wolf Gap Wine to accompany your meal. You’ll also receive a 3-pack of your choice of Wolf Gap wines as payment for your work, and a “chit” for a bottle of the wine made from the grapes you picked that day.
123 Stout Road
Edinburg, VA
540-984-3306
admin@wolfgapvineyard.com
www.wolfgapvineyard.com
Byrd Cellars
Harvest is set for Saturday, September 3rd. Sign up at the website.
5847 River Road West
Goochland, VA
804-457-9463
www.ByrdCellars.com
Tags: Gadino, Good Luck, Gray Ghost, harvest, Marterella, Philip Carter, The Hague, Virginia, volunteer, wine, wineries
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I’m on the list for Grey Ghost again. I did it last year…on the day they had a grey, rainy day. It’s a lot of work, but totally worth it.
Nancy Reply:
August 25th, 2011 at 9:22 am
Hey George! We’re on the Gray Ghost list, too – hope to see you out there!